2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
“Me, tekel, fares” are mysterious words that have been exciting people for thousands of years. What is in them? We will find the answer in the Bible. This exciting story is told in the fifth chapter of the book of Daniel, which is found in the records of the Old Testament.
History of Prophecy
The Babylonian king named Belshazzar arranged a grand feast for his nobles. Having drunk wine, he ordered the servants to deliver the golden and silver bowls, which his father Nebuchadnezzar once stole from the Jerusalem temple and defiled with pagan use. The close lords drank wine from the holy paraphernalia. During the bacchanalia, the whole community tirelessly glorified pagan idols. At that very moment, an incredible event occurred that seriously frightened Belshazzar - a hand appeared in the air, writing words incomprehensible to the king on the limestone wall.
Belshazzar was embarrassed, he was seized by a strong trembling, he immediately called for fortune-tellers and fortune-tellers to read and interpret the written words. To the one who copes with this, the lord promised great power. But none of those who came could neither read norbetter explain the meaning of what is written. Then the queen reminded her husband of the man of God Daniel, who was brought by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon along with other captive Jews from Jerusalem. Daniel was known for high spirit, divine wisdom and the ability to interpret dreams.
The prisoner refused Belshazzar's rewards, but read and interpreted the words. But before that, he reminded the king of the story of his father, to whom God once granted honor and greatness, but he misused these gifts. Nebuchadnezzar became proud and became a despot and a tyrant, for which the Lord took away his human mind and gave him an animal one in return, until the ruler realized that only the Almighty rules over all kingdoms and kings.
Daniel reproached Belshazzar for the fact that the story of his father, although known to him, did not teach him anything. Belshazzar forgot God and, together with his entire company, glorified idols. For this, the Lord sent fingers that wrote the sentence to the king: “Me, me, tekel, uparsin.”
The symbolic meaning of the phrase
In the Elizabethan Bible, the word "uparsin" is written as "fares". So in the Church Slavonic interpretation, this phrase sounds a little different: “Mene, tekel, fares (uparsin)”. The literal translation from Aramaic reads: “mina, mina, shekel and half a mina” are weight measures used in ancient Eastern countries. A mina is approximately 500 grams, half a mina, respectively, 250 g, and a shekel is approximately 11.5 g. But it was not the exact measurement that was important, but the symbolic meaning of thismysterious phrase: "Mene, tekel, fares." The translation of the verbal formula can also sound like this: "Calculated, calculated, weighed, divided." Daniel interpreted them as follows: God calculated (comprehended) the significance of the kingdom and put an end to it, weighed and found very light (insignificant) and Belshazzar himself. His possessions are divided and given to other rulers - the Persians and the Medes. That night Belshazzar was killed by Darius the Media, Babylon passed to the Persians, the prophecy was fulfilled.
In world culture
The phrase "Me, tekel, fares" has become a landmark in world culture. Just like in the Bible, it is used allegorically today to "weigh" the deeds, deeds and intentions of a person. Let's not forget that these words were a prediction of the near end of a person dressed in power and privileges, who exorbitantly ex alted himself and went beyond the bounds of reason. Therefore, the formula "Mene, tekel fares" is also used when they want to predict the collapse of the ruler and the satrap. It is no coincidence that the revolutionary mourning anthem (“You fell a victim in a fatal battle”), which accompanied the funeral of the fallen Bolsheviks, ominously hints that while the despot, they say, is feasting in a luxurious palace, the fateful hand of history displays a formidable omen on the wall.
Similar to the reference to "Mene, tekel, fares" in Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall", adopted by black students in Africa as a protest anthem against racism.
You can hear immortal words andin the films of domestic and foreign filmmakers ("Stalker", "Knight's Story", etc.).
In painting and graphics
The painting of the great Rembrandt "The Feast of Belshazzar", created in 1635, is also dedicated to the words "Me, tekel, fares". Their meaning is revealed with the help of expressive painting techniques. The master pays special attention to the emotional impact of the formidable and wonderful inscription on the heroes of the canvas.
The painting “The Feast of Belshazzar” by Vasily Surikov, created in 1874, is not inferior in terms of artistic impact on the viewer. This epic canvas conveys the taste of the era, the tension and the iconic meaning of the events taking place with exceptional poignancy.
French engraver and cartoonist James Gillray used the story of Belshazzar for a satirical drawing dedicated to the self-deception of Emperor Napoleon.
In Literature
This phrase, which has become popular, is found in many literary works. This is the name of the novel by the Russian émigré writer Ivan Nazhivin, who comprehends the impending danger of the 1905 revolution. These words in the sub titles of the sarcastic collection “B. Babylonian" by Mikhail Weller. The phrase is mentioned in the novel "The Name of the Rose" written by Umberto Eco, in the fantasy "Tirman" by Ukrainian writers working under the pseudonym Henry Oldie, in the work of V. Erofeev "Moscow-Petushki", in the ironic poems of Dmitry Prigov and in other works.
Book by Olesya Nikolaeva
At the beginning of a newMillennium created a work with the eloquent title "Mene, tekel, fares" Olesya Nikolaeva, Russian prose writer and poet. In 2010, she was awarded the Order of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Princess Olga for her educational work, and in 2012 she received the Patriarchal Literary Prize. With great love, humor and sadness, the writer recreates the world of Russian monasticism and the peculiarities of relationships among Christians. It can be said that through the mouths of such authors as Olesya Nikolaeva, the Lord calls on believers to stop, look at themselves from the outside and objectively assess whether they fulfill the main commandment of Christ: "Love one another." To be loved is a natural human need. From the fact that love has cooled on earth, evil fearlessly rules the world. Intrigues, hatred, mutual persecution among Christians - this is what poisons pure ardent love for God and people and incredibly weakens the spiritual and moral mission of God's children. The words “Mene, tekel, fares”, which is the title of the novel, sound in it in the context of the experiences of a young monk, “wounded” by the lack of love, understanding and forgiveness among the people of the Christian world dearest to him. And here it is - a call to stop and think.
Recommended:
Where did the phrase "in short, Sklifosovsky" come into use?
Catch phrases from old Soviet films are so widespread that it is difficult to find the original source. So from which movie - "in short, Sklifosovsky", not everyone can immediately remember. The words, first spoken by the character of Leonid Gaidai's comedy, have become truly popular. The expression is often used when you need to tell the speaker that you need to speak briefly and to the point
"Because gladiolus": where does this phrase come from? Her role in the history of KVN
The article is devoted to the origin and use of the phrase "because gladiolus". Variants of its use are described, several interesting facts. The article outlines several interesting details regarding the creativity of people from KVN, as well as the Ural dumplings group. The material will be useful to people who want to expand their horizons, who want to learn more about the club of the cheerful and resourceful, its history
The meaning of the name "Hero of Our Time". Summary and heroes of the novel by M.Yu. Lermontov
"A Hero of Our Time" is one of the most famous novels. To this day, it is popular among lovers of Russian classics. If you want to know more about this work, read the article
The meaning of the title of the novel "Fathers and Sons" (composition of the writer I.S. Turgenev)
Analysis of the title of the novel "Fathers and Sons" by I.S. Turgenev through the analysis of the main characters, as well as the ideological trends present in the text
"A curious Barbara's nose was torn off at the market": the meaning and meaning of the saying
When we were children peeping at various interesting things, but not intended for the eyes of a child, our parents would catch us with the words: “The nose of the curious Varvara was torn off at the market”. And we understood what that meant, intuitively or consciously. In our article, we will deal with the meaning of this saying, and with whether it is good or bad to be curious
